Community gives to Locks of Love

The College of Eastern Utah held their first Locks of Love Day on Feb. 12 at the cosmetology department. Those wishing to donate their hair for this great cause visited the CEU for a day of giving and pampering. This day, although not an unusual event for the cosmetology department, was full of hair cutting, lunch, manicures and silent auctions - all to benefit children who suffer from hair loss.

This event was organized by Melanie Huff from the Carbon School District. Melanie wanted to get involved when her daughter Lexi, who is eight, saw a commercial on television about a little girl who was being mocked because she had no hair. At that point Lexi decided that she wanted to give her hair away.

Pam Juliano, from Helper, started the local program eight years ago and Huff has taken it over. When Juliano turned 39 she wanted to start an event where, for future birthdays, she could think of someone else's happiness and not her own. Involving herself and her two daughters in Locks of Love is how the event got started.

The idea was that they could celebrate by giving something to someone else that would make a difference.

"Building self confidence through a gift that does not cost a thing was my daughter's and my purpose for giving to Locks of Love," states Juliano. "You have to wash and care for your hair anyway and how simple is this; grow it out and donate. We would then call all our friends to do this. It was an opportunity to give to someone you have never met."

CEU cosmetology is no stranger to this either. Pam Juliano involved CEU in her endeavor, making this the eighth year since the project's inception.

Debbie Prichard, department chairman of CEU cosmetology department stated, "All individuals, except for two professional hair cutters, are former CEU cosmetology students that are employed in local salons and helping this day become a success. Local salons in Price (such as) The Mane Place, Smart Style, Scissor Talk, Hair Hut, Don Marco's, and Emery salons, Shear Magic and Studio C, gave the day off to the employees to help in this event.Our former students, taking time out of their busy work schedules, were unselfishly donating their time for us. Our current students were also involved in the shampooing, styling and cutting, and the nail technicians were there to give manicures. We couldn't have had this success without them."

People who want to donate hair, but do not have the 10 inches to donate, are not turned away. CEU cosmetology department will help individuals get their hair to the donating length by giving free trims and conditioning treatments.All that is required is to sign an intent form.

More than 100,000 strands of hair are required to make a customized cap for people suffering from the effects of cancer or other diseases such as alopecia.

The cap is different than a wig because the cap is molded and customized to fit the person in need and the hair is specifically cut to the person's liking. Only the wearer of the hairpiece may remove it by breaking the seal at the head's temple.

Children who have the caps can swim, do gymnastics or any other activity with it on. In short, they can become kids again. Over time, if the person grows out of this cap, or is in need of repair, Locks of Love will repair it at no cost.

Many records were broken that day. It began with a 14 and one-half cut and ended with a 17 and one-half inch cut that JoAnne Cocciolo from Wellington selflesssly donated.

The total donation was 77 1/4 feet in a six hour period from 53 total donors who had tons of smiles to go with their hair.